Method for machining valve body castings

ABSTRACT

The method of, and system for, machining valve body castings, and the like, having inlet and outlet cored openings in opposite ends thereof, a valve seat, and a cored bonnet opening in the side thereof comprising the steps of: positively locating the casting via the opposed cored openings by inserting locating plugs in the inlet and outlet openings; machining the bonnet opening and/or seat of the positively located valve body; repositioning the valve body and positively locating on the machined bonnet opening and/or seat; and then machining the cored inlet and outlet openings or flange openings in opposite ends thereof.

o W WWNQd States Patent [1 1 1 3,732,@2 Miles, Jr. et al. 4n M 8, 19731541 METHOD FOR MACHINING VALVE 2,953,069 9/1960 Smith ..29/l57.l R

BODY CASTINGS Primary Examiner-Francis S. Husar [75] Inventors: Harry E.Miles, Jr.; Dale W. A

t M Wright, both of Saginaw, Mich. t omey Leanna & Ccunoch [73]Assignee: Miles Machinery Company, ABSTRACT Saginaw Mich- The method of,and system for, machining valve body 2 Filed; June 15, 1971 castings,and the like, having inlet and outlet cored openings in opposite endsthereof, a valve seat, and a PP 153,205 cored bonnet opening in the sidethereof comprising the steps of: positively locating the casting via theop- 52 US. Cl. ....40s/1, 408/22, 408/56, Pi g i i f; plug: in the29/1571, 29/407 29/558, 408/79 n e an ou e openings, mac ining e onneopen-I Int Cl B23) 35/00 B23b 41/00 mg and/or seat of the positivelylocated valve body, repositioning the valve body and positively locatingon Fleld of Search 37""41, the machined bonnet p i g and/or seat; andthen 498/79; 29/157'1407 558; 10/107 machining the cored inlet andoutlet openings or flange openings in opposite ends thereof. [56]References Cited 13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS130,577 8/1872 Gunn ..408/38 PATENTEU 81975 3.732025 INVENTORS HARRY E-MILES JR.

;S DALE W. WRIGHT 'rman McCullucl AT TORNEYS PAI MY' 81973 SHEET 3 OF 4INVENTORS HARRY E. MILES JR DALE w. WRIGHT ATTORNEYS Pmfimmwsusn3.732.025

SHEET H []F 3 FIGS) INVENTORS HARRY E. MILES JR. DALE W. WRIGHT Learmcm6) cCulloch ATT OR NEYS METHOD FOR MACHINING VALVE BODY CASTINGS FIELDOF THE INVENTION This invention relates to machining systems andmethods, and more particularly to a new and improved method andapparatus for positively locating and machining valve bodies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The machining of cast products, such asvalve bodies and other related castings, must be accomplished withspeed, efficiency, and accuracy. Accordingly, it is a primary object ofthe present invention to provide a machining system for accurately andefficiently machining valve body castings, and the like.

In the valve body castings of the type disclosed herein having coredopenings in opposite ends, a valve seat, and a bonnet opening in theside thereof, the relative positions of the various finally machinedopenings is an important consideration in machining the Accordingly, itis an object of the present invention to provide a method'and system formachining a valve body and the like by locating on the cored openings ofa valve body to machine the bonnet opening and then' locating on themachined bonnet opening to machine the cored openings or flangeopenings.

In machining valve bodies, which include interior valve seats, theintroduction of coolant to the cutting tool machining an interiorportion of the valve, has presented a problem. Accordingly, it is afurther object of the present invention to provide new and novelapparatus incorporated with locating members which are employed forintroducing liquid to a cutting tool interiorly of the side wall of ahollow valve body to facilitate cutting.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the description thereof proceeds.

THE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION from the inlet and outlet openings;apparatus for clamping the partially machined valve body on a locatingmember which is received in the machined bonnet opening or seat,andapparatus for machining the end portions of the valve body adjacentthe cored inlet and outlet openings while locating on the machinedbonnet opening or seat.

The present invention may more readily be described by reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan viewschematically illustrating a machining system constructed according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional, side view of a typical valve body which ismachined by apparatus constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, taken along the line 3-3of FIG. 1, and particularly illustrating a valve body clamped to anindexible turntable and located for an initial machining operation bytapered locating plugs received in the inlet and outlet cored openings,as cast;

FIG. 4 is a sectional end view, taken along the line 4- 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional plan view, particularly illustratingapparatus for machining the bonnet opening and valve seat at the firstmachining station;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional plan view, particularly illustratingapparatus at the second machining station for finish boring the bonnetopening;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional plan view illustrating apparatus forfacing the port flanges on the ends of the valve body;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, sectional plan view particularly illustratingapparatus for back-facing the port flanges on the ends of the valvebody; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 1, andparticularly illustrating the locating plug which is received in themachined bonnet opening of the valve body to locate the valve body whenport flanges are machined.

THE GENERAL DESCRIPTION Apparatus constructed according to the presentinvention is generally illustrated in FIG. 1 and includes bonnet openingmachining apparatus, generally designated A, which locates on the coredopenings 12 in opposite ends of a cast valve body 10 and machines thebonnet opening 16 (FIG. 2) of a valve body 10, and

machining apparatus B for machining the cored end openings 12 whilelocating on the already machined bonnet opening 16.

THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Apparatus constructedaccording to the present invention is particularly well suited formachining a rough casting, such as the valve body, generally illustratedat 10 in FIG. 2, having a pair of longitudinally ex tending, non-axiallyaligned cored passages or openings 11 therein terminating in inlet andoutlet ports 12 at opposite ends of the casting 10. The passages 11communicate with each other through a valve seat opening 14 in theinterior of the body 10. Perimetrical port flanges 13 are provided onopposite ends of the casting 10 for mounting the valve body to conduitsand the like (not shown). A single support lug 15, (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) onthe underside of the rear portion of the body 10, and pairs of supportor locating lugs 17 (FIGS. 3 and 4) on the upper and lower sides of thefront portion of the body 10 are integrally cast on the body 10 for apurpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

A bonnet opening, generally designated 16, is cast into the side of thevalve body 10 in communication with one of the axial passages 1 l and ingenerally radial alignment with the valve seat opening 14. A bonnetflange 18 is integrally cast with the body 10 for mounting a, valvebonnet (not shown) which mounts a valve steam (not shown) and a valve(not shown) as usual.

The valve body is initially supported by an indexible turntable,generally designated 20, which is indexibly mounted on a support frame Fto sequentially position the valve body 10 at a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced work stations, generally designated 22, 24, 26and 28. The turntable includes a vertical support post 21 which isrotatably supported on the frame F and is turned about its axis by asuitable source of power such as an electric motor (not shown) andoperates via suitable geneva mechanisms, for instance, to index theworkpiece.

As is best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the body 10 is supported by afixture F provided on the turntable 20. The fixture F includes avertical post 29 which is received in an opening 200 in the turntable.Level equalizing apparatus is supported on the post 29 for horizontalmovement and includes tapered support surfaces 31 on a freely slidableplate 29a in bearing engagement with complementally tapered guidesurfaces 32a on the undersides of supporting bar members 32 which mounta pair of front rest pads 33. A single rear rest pad 34 is also providedon fixture F but is not a locating pad, since, as later will appear,when the workpiece 10 is clamped, it is lifted off the pad 34.Horizontal outward movement of the parallel bars 32 is prevented by anenclosure wall 35 which is supported on the table 20 and encases the barmembers 32 that are in vertical sliding engagement therewith. Asillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the single, rear rest pad 34 is elevatedslightly above the front pads 33 to engage the lug 15. Pads 33 engagelugs 17 on the underside of the body 10 when the workpiece is clamped.By permitting relatively vertical movement of the pads 33 and 34, whenclamping occurs, the valve body 10 is oriented about the axis y to allowfor as cast" variations in the valve body.

For properly locating the valve body 10 in conjunction with the locatingpads 33 and 34, a pair of locating slides comprising a portion offixture assembly F are slidably mounted on the turntable 20 and includeintegrally formed dependent nuts 40 having oppositely threaded bores 42therethrough for receiving a screw 44 having oppositely threaded ends44a and 44b for moving the locating slides 30 simultaneously, inopposite directions, toward and away from each other when the hand-wheel45 attached to one end of the screw 44 is turned. Each of the locatingslides 30 has a bore 46 therein receiving a bushing 48 in which the stem49 of a tapered locating plug 50 is slidably received. An adjustmentbolt 52 is received in an apertured end cap 54 and is threaded into thestem 49 to axially adjust each plug 50 relative to the slide 30. A fluidcommunicating passage 56 is provided in each locating plug 50 and is incommunication with a source 58 of cooling or cutting fluid for a purposeto be described more particularly hereinafter.

To assist in locating and clamping the valve body 10 on the turntable20, fixture F also includes a hydraulically operated clamping head 60pivotally mounted on a horizontal shaft 62, suitably supported on thetumtable for pivotal movement between the solid line positionillustrated in FIG. 4, and the chain line position, partly illustratedin FIG. 4. At its forward end, the clamping head 60 mounts a cross beam64 having a pair of clamp pads 66 depending therefrom for engaging theas cast" lugs 17 on the upper surface of the valve body 10. Beam 64 isrockably mounted on shaft 64a. The integrally cast lugs need not bemachined to provide precise clamping surfaces.

A pair of links 68 and 70, pivotally connected with the pivot pins 71and 72 fixed to the head 60 and turntable 20, respectively, arepivotally connected to each other by a pivot pin 73 and are movablebetween the solid and chain line positions illustrated in FIG. 4, bymeans of the piston rod 75 of a solenoid actuated, fluid operatedcylinder 76 which is pivotally mounted on the turntable by a pivot pin77. The valve body 10 is clamped to the indexing turntable 20 in aposition rotated 90 about its longitudinal axis x from the position inwhich it is illustrated in FIG. 2.

Surrounding the turntable 20 are a plurality of power-operated machininghead assemblies 82, 84, 86 and 88 at the work stations 22, 24, 26 and 28respectively, which may be of the general character described in US.Pat. No. 2,915,924 granted Dec. 8, 1959, for example. Alternatively,each of the machining assemblies 82, 84, 86 and 88 may comprise a heavyduty slide feed unit, such as that manufactured by Miles MachineryCorporation of Saginaw, Michigan, which features easily adjustablecontrols for rapid advance, variable feed and rapid return cycles. Ineither case, each of these heads includes a rotary spindle S which maybe rapid traversed to and from machining position and fed in a machiningpass in the usual manner. The machining apparatus 82 includes a toolsupporting body, illustrated generally at 78 (FIG. 5) supported on ahorizontally movable slide 89, mounted on its machining assembly spindleS, and having, at its axially outer end, a valve seat machining toolsystem 79 and, at an axially inner portion thereof, a bonnet openingmachining tool system 80. The valve seat machining system 78 includes aboring tool 81 for rough boring the surface a in the valve seat opening14 and a counterboring tool 83 for rough counterboring surface b.

The bonnet opening tool system includes boring and counterboring tools85 and 87 for rough boring and rough counterboring the surfaces 0 and drespectively in the bonnet opening 16. A facing tool 87a is mounted onthe slide 89. Conventional apparatus (not shown) is provided for movingthe slide 89 and the facing tool 870 radially relative to the bonnetopening 16 to face the surface e of the bonnet flange 18. A guide track90 is provided on the slide 89 and receives a guide 91 on the spindle Sof the machining apparatus 82 for guiding the radial movement of theslide 89.

It is important to note that when the valve seat opening 14 is beingbored and counterbored, cooling or cutting fluid is supplied through theports 56 in the locating plugs 50 through the valve body passages 11 tothe surfaces 0 and b being machined.

The machining head 84, at the second machining station 24, comprises afinish boring and counterboring tool system including a head 94 havingaxially spaced boring tools 92 and 93 for more finish boring andcounterboring respectively, of the surfaces 0 and d. Apparatus,generally designated 84a, is provided for moving the head 94 axiallytoward and away from a valve body casting 10 on the turntable 20.

The conventional machining t'ool assembly 86, at the downstream workstation 26, includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced rotarydrills 95 which drill bores 96 through the valve body bonnet flange 18.The individually rotated drills are carried by a common drill head 96a(FIG. 1) on the assembly spindle S and conventional mechanism isprovided for driving the drills individually. This may comprise aconventional gear.

box mechanism for translating rotation of spindle S to individualrotation of each drill 95.

At the fourth work station 28, the machining head mechanism 88 includesa plurality of circumferentially spaced taps 97, which tap the holes 96in the bonnet flange 18. The tapping head mounting the tapping units 97is of the same general construction as the drilling head. The taps arealso individually driven from the spindle S, and the spindle S isreversible to back out the taps.

The apparatus, generally designated B, in FIG. 1, for machining the portflanges 13, includes a turntable 100 mounted on a vertical post 102which is rotatably mounted on a second frame or base C and is adapted toreceive the partially machined valve body 10. Apparatus (not shown) isprovided for rotating the post 102 about its axis to move the valve bodymounted thereon between a plurality of circumferentially spaced apartwork stations, generally designated 104, 105, 106 and 107. The turntable100,'which may be indexed in the same manner as turntable 20, includesan annular flange 103 rotatably journaled by a frame supported annularguide rib 104. Mounted atop the table 100, by locating pins 100a, is afixture base 110 having a locating plug assembly, generally designated112, centered thereon. The locating plug assembly 112 comprises acylindrically shaped arbor 114 having a central bore 115 therethroughfor receiving a bolt 116 which is threaded into the fixture base 110.Received on the arbor 114 is a plug collar, generally designated 1 18,including an annular base portion 120 fixed to the arbor 114 by screws121 and a flange 119 receivable in the already machined bonnet opening16. The screws 121 removably couple the collar 118 to the arbor 114. Aplurality of rest buttons 122 are provided on the base 120 forsupporting the bonnet flange 18 of a valve body 11) mounted on thecentering plug 112. To properly orient the valve body 10 on thecentering plug 112, a valve body orienting button 123 is provided on thebase 120 and is adapted to be received in one of the threaded holes 96provided in the bonnet flange 1 8. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the annularplug 119 is snugly received by the finished surface 0 of the bonnetopening 16 to precisely position the valve body 10 on the turntable 100.

For clamping a valve body 10 to the fixture base 110, a clamping bar 130is provided and is supported at one end 130a on the upper end of athreaded post 128 mounted on the fixture base 110. A pair of nuts 129,threaded on the post 128, generally determine the vertical position ofthe end 1300 of the bar 130. The end 130a of the bar 130 includes anenlarged bore 1130b freely receiving the post 128 so as to permitlimited swinging movement of the bar 130 in a vertical path, designatedby the arrow m (FIG. 9). An expansion spring 129a is provided betweenthe lower nut 129 and the bar 130 to constantly, but yieldably, urge thebar 130 to the position illustrated in the drawing.

To vertically swing the bar 130 in the direction of the arrow m, againstthe biasing force of spring 1290, between clamping and unclampingpositions, a double acting, solenoid actuated, fluid operated cylinder127 is supported on the base and includes a piston rod 126 fixed to theend 1300 of the bar 131). A work engaging button 131 is provided on theunderside of the bar for engaging the support lug 15 on the valve body111 when the bar 130 is lowered to the clamping position illustrated inthe drawing.

A plurality of machining tool assemblies, generally designated 134, 135,136 and 137 and of the construction previously mentioned, is provided atwork stations 104, 105, 106 and 107, respectively. The machining toolassembly 134 comprises a facing tool 140 (FIG. 7) mounted on a slide 141which is axially and transversely movable for facing the surface I: ofone of the port flanges 13. The slide 141 is mounted on the spindle S ofhead assembly 134.

The machining apparatus 135, at station 105, comprises a back facingtool 142 for facing the back surface i of the port flange 13. Tool 142is mounted on the spindle S of machining head 135.

The machining apparatus 136, at the station 106, comprises a pluralityof drills 144 for drilling holes 145 in the port flanges 13. The drills144 are mounted on a drill plate 1440 on the spindle S of machining head136 for individual rotation in the manner previously designated.

The machining apparatus 137 comprises a plurality of taps 146 fortapping the drilled holes 145 in the flange 13. The taps are mounted forindividual rotation on a tapping head 146a mounted on the spindle S ofmachining head 137. It should be realized, of course, that the machiningassemblies 134 and 136 can operate simultaneously, and that themachining assemblies 137 and 135 can also operate simultaneously, tosimultaneously machine opposite end flanges 13 of the body 10. Each ofthe machining assemblies 134, 135, 136 and 137 is equipped with aheavy-duty slide feed unit which features easily adjustable controls forrapid advance, variable feed, and rapid return cycles.

Because the bonnet flanges 13 on the valve bodies 10 are symmetrical, itis possible to utilize machining apparatus 82 to also face and drill thebonnet flanges 13. Because the valve bodies 10 are stationarily mountedon the indexing tables 20 and 100 and the various tools rotate tomachine the valve body, the need for cumbersome rotating fixtures hasbeen eliminated and a greater rigidity is possible, permitting greaterprecision in machining. As is evidenced from the description, thepresent system also allows a number of operations to be performed,either simultaneously or sequentially, with a single chucking of theworkpiece. By minimizing the number of times the part is handled,productivity is in creased and machining quality is improved. it hasbeen found that, with apparatus constructed according to the presentinvention, valve body castings of the type described can be completelymachined at an average rate of 7.5 parts per hour with only oneoperator. Control valve bodies ranging from one-half inch through 6 inchsizes have been satisfactorily machined with apparatus constructedaccording to the present invention. This apparatus permits fastchangeover from one size or variety of valve body to another, therebypermitting optimum productivity. Gate valve bodies may also be machinedutilizing the principles and concepts of the present invention.

THE OPERATION To summarize the operation, a rough valve body casting 10is initially placed on the support pads 33 and 34 provided on theturntable 20. The tapered plugs 50 are inserted into the cored ports 12via hand-wheel 45 to locate the body 10 and lift the body 10 off the pad34. Immediately after locating has been accomplished, the clamping head60 is operated to clamp the valve body in position. Upon clamping, thevalve body 10 rotates slightly about the longitudinal axis thereof toraise the lug l slightly off the rest pad 34, and return the lowermostfront lugs 17 into engagement with the pad 33. The locating pads 33 arerelatively vertically movable to accommodate to the particular valvebody as cast. The valve body to be machined is then indexed to aposition opposite the boring head 78, at station 82, where the bonnetopening 16 and the valve seat opening 14 are rough bored, roughcounterbored and faced. The table is then indexed to the station 84where the surfaces a and b are finish bored and counterbored with thefinishing tools 92 and 93. When the valve opening is being bored,counterbored and finish bored, cutting fluid is passed through thepassages 56 through the locating plugs 50 to facilitate cutting and tocool the cutting tools 81, 79, 85 and 87.

The table 10 is then indexed to move the valve body 10 to a positionopposite the drills 95 for multiple drilling of the port flange l3, andthen is finally indexed to a position opposite the taps 97 where thedrilled holes 145 are tapped. When the taps 97 have been backed out, theoperator releases the hydraulic clamp 60, unloads the valve body fromthe turntable 10, and loads it on the other turntable 100.

The valve body 10 is positioned on the turntable 100 with plug 119snugly received by the surface c of the bonnet opening 16. Thehydraulically operated clamping cylinder 127 is then actuated to movethe clamping bar 130 into clamping engagement with the valve body 10.

The turntable 100 may then be indexed so that the valve body 10 ispositioned opposite the head 134 at the station 104 where one of theflanges 13 is backfaced while the opposite flange 13 is multiple drilledat station 106 by the drills 144. The turntable 100 is then indexed 90and the back-faced flange is step-faced at station 105, while thedrilled flange is tapped at station 107. The turntable 100 is againindexed 90 and the faced flange is drilled at station 100 while theopposite flange is back-faced at station 104. The table 100 is thenindexed to the final position where the just drilled holes are tapped atstation 107, and the flange on the opposite end is step-faced.

[f the valve body 10 does not include port flanges 13 and the ports 12are to be drilled and tapped, the machining apparatus and cycle isslightly different. The combination tool at the first station 104 wouldcomprise drilling and facing apparatus for drilling and plunge facingone of the openings 12. The table 100 would then be indexed 180 so thatthe opposite port 12 is drilled and faced. The table 100 is then indexed90 to present the first opening to a tapping apparatus provided atstation 105. The table is then finally rotated 180 to present theopposite port 12 to the tapping apparatus at station to tap the oppositeport 12.

Because the valve body 10 is precisely located on locating plug 119, theholes 12 are accurately and precisely tapped in the second version andthe flanges 13 are accurately spaced, drilled, and tapped in theillustrated version of the valve body. The machining cycles of theapparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is completely automatic so that oneoperator is able to unload and reload valve bodies from and onto thetable 12 while the table 100 is indexing in a machining cycle and vicever- It should be understood that any reference to the machining ofportions of the valve body adjacent the ports may interchangeably referto either the flanges 13 in the illustrated version of the valve body orto the portion of the valve defining the ports 12 in the second version.Also, it should be understood that expandable arbors could besubstituted for the plugs 50, if desired.

It should also be understood that the plugs 50 could also be insertedaxially inwardly of the outer portions of ports 12 so as to locate onthe valve seat openings in a gate valve body which are axially alignedwith the outer portions of inlet and outlet openings 12 and may beconsidered to comprise portions thereof.

It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matter are inall cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles ofthe invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it iscontemplated that various changes may be made in various elements toachieve like results without departing from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A method of machining valve body castings and the like,having cored inlet and outlet openings at opposite ends thereof and acored bonnet opening in the side thereof comprising the steps of:

inserting locating plug members into the cored inlet and outlet openingsas cast, to position the casting on a support member and clamping thecasting to the support member in a manner to positively locate saidcasting and prevent its rotation;

machining said bonnet opening while the casting is thus positioned;

unclamping the casting from the support member and repositioning thecasting on a locating plug received in the machined bonnet opening; and

machining the end portions of said casting adjacent said cored inlet andoutlet openings. 2. A method of machining a casting, such as a valvebody and the like, having communicating cored openings in opposite endsthereof and a communicating bonnet opening in the side of said bodycomprising the steps of:

locating on at least one of said cored openings, as cast, and machiningthe bonnet opening; and then locating on the machined bonnet opening andmachining the portions of said valve body adjacent said cored openingsin said opposite ends.

3. A method of machining a valve body casting, or the like, having coredinlet and outlet openings at opposite ends thereof and a cored bonnetopening in the side thereof comprising:

positively locating said valve body casting on first plug meansreceivable in said inlet and outlet openings, as cast;

machining said bonnet opening by moving rotating cutting tool meanstoward and away from the located valve body;

relatively moving said valve body and said first plug means to removesaid first plug means from said valve body;

positively relocating the valve body on additionalplug means receivablein the machined bonnet opening; and

machining said opposite end portions of said valve body adjacent saidinlet and outlet openings by moving additional rotating cutting meanstoward and away from said additional plug means and said valve body.

4. The method set forth in claim 3 including the step of machining avalve seat interiorly of said valve body when said bonnet opening isbeing machined; and introducing fluid through at least one of said coredinlet and outlet openings to facilitate machining of said valve seat.

5. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein said locating step includesthe step of clamping said valve body casting to indexible means whensaid bonnet opening is machined.

6. The method set forth in claim 5 wherein said locating step isaccomplished by initially supporting the side of said valve body,opposite said bonnet opening, on said indexible means when said firstplug means is received in said inlet and outlet openings, said clampingstep being accomplished by slightly turning said valve body, about theaxes of said inlet and outlet openings, to raise said opposite side ofsaid valve body to a raised position in which it is machined.

7. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein said valve body includes abonnet flange adjacent said bonnet opening; and said first mentionedmachining step is accomplished at a first machining station by roughboring and rough counterboring said bonnet opening, and facing saidbonnet flange.

8. The method set forth in claim 7 wherein the machining of saidopposite end portions is accomplished by finish boring and finishcounter boring said bonnet opening at a second machining stationdownstream of first station.

9. The method set forth in claim 8 wherein said first machining stepfurther includes drilling openings in said flange at a third stationdownstream of said second station; and tapping said drilled openings ata fourth station downstream of said third station.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein said casting includesmounting flanges adjacent said inlet and outlet openings; said secondmachining step is accomplished by facing the axially inner faces of atleast one of said mounting flanges at a fifth station, and facing theaxially outer face of said one flange at a sixth station, downstream ofsaid fifth station.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein said second machiningstep is accomplished by drilling said mounting flanges at a fifthmachining station, and tapping said drilled openings at a sixth stationdownstream from said fifth station.

A method of machining a valve body casting, or

the like, having)inlet and outlet 0 eni ggs at opposite ends thereof, aonnet opening 1n e s1 e thereo and a valve seat adjacent said bonnetopening and adjacent at least one of said inlet and outlet openings,comprising:

clamping said valve body to a table for supporting a valve body to bemachined; maching the bonnet opening by moving rotating cutting toolmeans toward and away from said work table and a valve body supportedthereon between remote and operative positions to interiorly machinesaid valve seat; said step of clamping being accomplished by locating onat least one of said inlet and outlet openings of said body when it isbeing machined, and

introducing fluid interiorly of said valve body through one of saidinlet and outlet openings to facilitate the machining of said valveseat.

13. A method of machining a valve body casting, or the like, having acored opening comprising inlet and outlet portions at opposite endsthereof, and an additional portion having an axis generallyperpendicular to the axes of the inlet and outlet portions comprising:

supporting a valve body to be machined;

positively locating said valve body on said support means by insertinglocating means on locating surfaces in said opening as cast;

machining said additional portion by moving rotating cutting tool meanstoward and away from the located valve body;

relatively moving said valve body and said locating means to remove saidlocating means from said inlet and outlet portions;

positively relocating the valve by inserting locating means in themachined additional portion; and moving additional rotating cutting toolmeans toward and away from said additional locating means and said valvebody to machine opposite end portions of said valve body adjacent saidinlet and outlet portions.

1. A method of machining valve body castings and the like, having coredinlet and outlet openings at opposite ends thereof and a cored bonnetopening in the side thereof comprising the steps of: inserting locatingplug members into the cored inlet and outlet openings as cast, toposition the casting on a support member and clamping the casting to thesupport member in a manner to positively locate said casting and preventits rotation; machining said bonnet opening while the casting is thuspositioned; unclamping the casting from the support member andrepositioning the casting on a locating plug received in the machinedbonnet opening; and machining the end portions of said casting adjacentsaid cored inlet and outlet openings.
 2. A method of machining acasting, such as a valve body and the like, having communicating coredopenings in opposite ends thereof and a communicating bonnet opening inthe side of said body comprising the steps of: locating on at least oneof said cored openings, as cast, and machining the bonnet opening; andthen locating on the machined bonnet opening and machining the portionsof said valve body adjacent said cored openings in said opposite ends.3. A method of machining a valve body casting, or the like, having coredinlet and outlet openings at opposite ends thereof and a cored bonnetopening in the side thereof comprising: positively locating said valvebody casting on first plug means receivable in said inlet and outletopenings, as cast; machining said bonnet opening by moving rotatingcutting tool means toward and away from the located valve body;relatively Moving said valve body and said first plug means to removesaid first plug means from said valve body; positively relocating thevalve body on additional plug means receivable in the machined bonnetopening; and machining said opposite end portions of said valve bodyadjacent said inlet and outlet openings by moving additional rotatingcutting means toward and away from said additional plug means and saidvalve body.
 4. The method set forth in claim 3 including the step ofmachining a valve seat interiorly of said valve body when said bonnetopening is being machined; and introducing fluid through at least one ofsaid cored inlet and outlet openings to facilitate machining of saidvalve seat.
 5. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein said locatingstep includes the step of clamping said valve body casting to indexiblemeans when said bonnet opening is machined.
 6. The method set forth inclaim 5 wherein said locating step is accomplished by initiallysupporting the side of said valve body, opposite said bonnet opening, onsaid indexible means when said first plug means is received in saidinlet and outlet openings, said clamping step being accomplished byslightly turning said valve body, about the axes of said inlet andoutlet openings, to raise said opposite side of said valve body to araised position in which it is machined.
 7. The method set forth inclaim 3 wherein said valve body includes a bonnet flange adjacent saidbonnet opening; and said first mentioned machining step is accomplishedat a first machining station by rough boring and rough counterboringsaid bonnet opening, and facing said bonnet flange.
 8. The method setforth in claim 7 wherein the machining of said opposite end portions isaccomplished by finish boring and finish counter boring said bonnetopening at a second machining station downstream of first station. 9.The method set forth in claim 8 wherein said first machining stepfurther includes drilling openings in said flange at a third stationdownstream of said second station; and tapping said drilled openings ata fourth station downstream of said third station.
 10. The apparatus setforth in claim 9 wherein said casting includes mounting flanges adjacentsaid inlet and outlet openings; said second machining step isaccomplished by facing the axially inner faces of at least one of saidmounting flanges at a fifth station, and facing the axially outer faceof said one flange at a sixth station, downstream of said fifth station.11. The apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein said second machiningstep is accomplished by drilling said mounting flanges at a fifthmachining station, and tapping said drilled openings at a sixth stationdownstream from said fifth station.
 12. A method of machining a valvebody casting, or the like, having inlet and outlet openings at oppositeends thereof, a bonnet opening in the side thereof, and a valve seatadjacent said bonnet opening and adjacent at least one of said inlet andoutlet openings, comprising: clamping said valve body to a table forsupporting a valve body to be machined; maching the bonnet opening bymoving rotating cutting tool means toward and away from said work tableand a valve body supported thereon between remote and operativepositions to interiorly machine said valve seat; said step of clampingbeing accomplished by locating on at least one of said inlet and outletopenings of said body when it is being machined, and introducing fluidinteriorly of said valve body through one of said inlet and outletopenings to facilitate the machining of said valve seat.
 13. A method ofmachining a valve body casting, or the like, having a cored openingcomprising inlet and outlet portions at opposite ends thereof, and anadditional portion having an axis generally perpendicular to the axes ofthe inlet and outlet portions comprising: supporting a valve body to bemachined; positively locating said valve body on said support means byinseRting locating means on locating surfaces in said opening as cast;machining said additional portion by moving rotating cutting tool meanstoward and away from the located valve body; relatively moving saidvalve body and said locating means to remove said locating means fromsaid inlet and outlet portions; positively relocating the valve byinserting locating means in the machined additional portion; and movingadditional rotating cutting tool means toward and away from saidadditional locating means and said valve body to machine opposite endportions of said valve body adjacent said inlet and outlet portions.